PRPD awards livelihood projects to Bontoc groups

By Erwin S. Batnag and Novy del Rosario Afidchao

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Members of the Lumawig Lanao Farmers Organization received rain shelters and farm inputs for leafy vegetable production during the awarding of the micro enterprise subproject (formerly Small Livelihood Project) here at the Eyeb Open Gym on July 25.

Funded under the I-REAP (enterprise development) component of the Dept. of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), 60 percent of the fund comes from the World Bank while the Government of the Philippines and the participating Bontoc local government provided 20% each as counterpart.

Bontoc Mayor Franklin C. Odsey thanked the PRDP for bringing the program in the place as it will surely help the beneficiaries improve their income.

"Let us implement the project properly and sustain it,” he urged.

According to Harold Bagawi of the project’s procurement unit, the 25 organization members are the first batch to receive the garden equipment and inputs.

The remaining members will be receiving their garden inputs during the second tranche of distribution pending the completion of some documents.

Rosa A. Kiser, Lumawig Lanao Farmers Organization president  expressed her gratefulness for the implementation of the project.

"The assistance will surely aid our members to advance their livelihood and also improve their income,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Kavining-an Livelihood Association of Mainit has earlier received its livelihood project in the form of swine raising and marketing. Aside from piglets, the beneficiaries also received pigpen housing materials, feeds, drum with cover, milled corn, molasses, double lock pail, and supplemental feeds.

Investments in Rural Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) is a PRDP component that aims to strengthen and develop viable agriculture and fishery-based enterprises by providing technical, financial and infrastructure support to eligible groups in targeted project areas.